Trap



Oct. 5, 19-37. J. c. PEWTHER 2,095,101

TRAP

Filed Oct 7, 1935 #5 TIE-1.. Z

Judlsan G Pea/Z7227 Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT or iesApplication October '7,

Claims.

This invention relates to traps and more particularly to traps designedfor use in catching burrowing animals. Traps of this character have tobe inserted in burrows and one of the objects 5 of this invention is toprovide a trap which may be set within a burrow, with the jaws fittingout snugly against the Walls of the burrow.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable animal trapwhich will be inexpensive to manufacture, yet practical and convenientin use.

Another object of invention is to provide an animal trap of this classwhich can be manufactured in a standard size, yet which will fit intoburrows of various sizes. a

The invention consists in improving the animal trap disclosed in UnitedStates Patent No. 1,222,- 024, issued to me April 10, 1917.

In order that my invention may be better understood I will state somefacts as I know them. The gopher has been brought under control in mostplaces in Kansas and several middle western States through the use of atrap constructed in accordance with the invention shown in my patentdescribedabove. Insome regions, however, there are extra large gophers,and in the sand hills a very small gopher. is found, while moles aboundalmost everywhere.

In using traps of the type described herein, it is essential that thetrap approximately fit into the burrow. In using the old-type trap inthe past, it was found that when a burrow was small, enlarging it enoughto receive an average size trap would give a small animal room to turncross-ways or assume some other position in which its body would not bebetween the jaws when they close. In a large burrow the trap would fitloosely, the jaws projecting into the burrow, obstructing the freepassage of the animal so that the animal would often refuse to passbetween the jaws. Experience has shown that a trap which snugly fits theburrow will be 20% to 30% more efficient than when the trap is eithertoo large or too small.

The trap shown herein is constructed for large, medium, or smallgophers, as well as moles, while under the old type of structure it wasnecessary to use three different sizes of traps to secure the samerange.

50 The novel features of the invention will hereinafter he definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying draw- 55ing, wherein 1935, Serial No. 43,942

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a trap constructed in accordancewith aneembodiment of my invention with the jaws in set position andwith second and third position indicated by dotted lines. 5

Figure 2 is a view of the preliminary sheet metal blank from which jaw 3is formed.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail perspective views.

The main frame member I of the trap is formed from asingle metal rodwhose front end is bent laterally and curved to form one jaw 9, the rearend portion of the rod being upwardly offset and having an eye H in thepresent disclosure, for use in anchoring the'trap. A second jaw 3 isstamped from the sheet metal blank shown in Fig. 2 and is provided witha tubular bearing 3 surrounding the rod i directly behind the jaw 9. Thefront end of a coiled torsional spring 2 is suitably connected with thejaw 3, the rear end of said spring being provided with an integral 20arm 2 which is used to wind and tension the spring in readiness foroperation and to release tension on said spring when setting the trap.Toward its free end, the arm 2 is provided with a laterally bentloopportion l2 and with a laterally bent hookportion I2 The hook portion[2 is engageable with the upwardly offset rear end of the rod l to holdthe spring 2 tensioned for operation, and the handle I2 is instrumentalin releasing said hook when the spring is to be relieved of tensionpreparatory to setting the trap. After setting, handle I2 is of coursealso used to again swing the arm 2 to spring-wound position, allowingre-engagement of the hook l2 with the rod. 7 35 A latch lever A isfulcrumed near its front end upon the inner end portion of the jaw 9,said latch lever being preferably provided with a coil 4 looselysurrounding said end portion of said jaw. This jaw is provided with asuitable stop 8, shown in the form of a coil, to prevent sliding of theeye 4 from said jaw. The jaw 3 is provided with a small plate portion 6disposed in a plane in front of and at right angles to the rod I, saidplate portion being provided with a plurality of spaced abutments whichare selectively engageable with the front end of the latch lever 4 tohold the jaws 3 and 9 in any of various spaced relations, as indicatedby the dotted lines I B. These abutments are preferably formed by theedges of openings 6 and a notch 6 formed in the plate portion 6. Asuitable trip plate 5 is slidable along the spring 2 and engageable withthe rear end of the latch lever 4 to hold thelatter in set position, andwhen said latch lever is in this position, the

7' jaws13 and 9 will be held inoneIspaced 'relation 7 or another;according'to whether the front end of said lever be engaged'with oneopening 6 or another, or withlthe notch- 6 from engagementwith frame];The spring is i sired width to snugly r fit into the burrow of a g inthe appropriate catch at'B'. The latch lever is secured in position bypassing it through the H "hole in'trip'plate 5; Then'windingleverfl ispulled around and hooked to frame I to tension r the spring; Trip plate5 is-adjusted finally neari the end of the latching lever 4 so that thetrap is actuatedby readily springs when tripfplatei I contact witha'burrowing arnmal.

From the foregoing; description it is thought the V precise structureshown herein 2l5'rriay bevlimit'ed b'y jthef ollowingtclaims. 7'

Iclaim: v V 1 1. A trap comprising two cooperable spring actuated jaws,a. latch lever fulcrumed 'on one of -Said' jaws, the other of saidjawsbeing provided 7 Q With 'a plurality ofj'spacedabutments'selectivelyT engageable with said'la tch lever to hold the jaws win any of variousspaced relations when said latch 5 lever occupiesa "set position,animal-released r hol n 'saidjiatc lver in said set, positiony 1 I is=fulcrumed on'one of said jaws, the'other ofsaid fin a plane at rightangles torthepivotal axis of 7' the jaws, said plate portionlhaving, apluralitywof spaced abutments selectively engageable with saidlatchflever'to hold the jaws in any of various spaced relations whensaid: latch lever occupies ijholdingsaidllatchleveliinsaid set position.v

3,;A trapcomprisin'g :a rod having one later;

1 ally curved jaw rigidly carriediby its :front'end,

a second curvedjaw cooperable with said 'onejjawr I V i 'In operationthe winding handle I2 is released f allowed to rotate backward releasingall tension:

on'j'aw 3. The jaws are then spread to the deburrowing animal; ;The jawsare'secured in the "desiredposition byplacing the tip of latch lever tobe obvious' thatI accomplish'the objectsiof invention'in an extremely,desirable and inexpensiv'eimannerl I do notjjwish to limit myself "to 1except aslI I 2.; A trap; comprising" twoicooperable spring-.

actuated-jaws having a pivotal ,axis,a latch lever v jaws being'providedwith a plate portion disposed ,i a set position, andanimal-released 7 means for- 7 V 7 released means for and having abearing surrounding said rod behind Q said one jaw, alcoile'djaw-actuating spring surrounding said rod, theffront'end of said spring,

being, connected with said second jaw and the rear end of said springbeing connected with'said rod,

' a'latch'lever'fulcrumed nearits front end on the i inner endportion ofsaid one jaw, said second jaw being provided with a pluralityof spaced'abutments selectively :engageable with said front 'end of vsaid latchlever to hold the two jawsi in any'of various spaced relations when saidlatch lever occupies a set position in which it extend's longitudinallyof said spring, and animal-released "means engageable with the rear endof said latch lever for holdingit in said set position. j i V 4. A trapcomprising a rod havingone later-' ally curved jaw rigidly carried byitsrfrontend, 7 a second curved jaw'cooperable with said one jaw Q r 7and'having a; bearing surrounding said rod behind saidjone'jawaicoiledjaw-actuating spring surrounding said rod; the front end ogf said springbeing connected with said second jaw and the rear end of said springbeing'connectedwith said rod, 1

said second jaw being provided with a plate portion'r disposed in aplane in'advance of said rod 7 andatright'angles to said rod, a latchlever ful crumednearits front end on the inner nd portively engageablewith said front end of said latch lever' to hold the two jawsl in any ofvarious;

spaced relations when said latch; lever occupies a set 'position inwhich it extends'longitudinallyl poi said spring,,andfanimal-releasedmeans en:

gageable with the rear end of said latchlever'ior" V l holding it insaid set position.

5. In' a'spring-actuated trap, two pivotally connectedjaw-carrying'members, two coacting jaws projecting laterally from saidjaw-carrying memtbersrespectively, alatch lever fulcrumed-on one of saidjaws; the other of said'jaws'being provided 7 tion of said one jaw, saidplate portion'gbeing mg 5- rvided with afplur'ality of spaced abutmentsse1ec 3' with a plurality of spacedabutments selectively" inany'ofdifierent spaced relations whenfsaid latchilever is held in setposition, andl laninialh ld n r id,lat -1%? n said set-positiongf K V qJUDSON'C: EWT E en gageablewith saidlatch'lever to h d the jaws a

